Expedia reveals some international etiquette rules that may surprise you

Expedia reveals some international etiquette rules that may surprise you

- Expedia’s interactive guide contains tips for 18 of the most-travelled countries in the world, across 5 continents.
- Designed for both business and personal travel, the guide offers expert advice regarding etiquette in restaurants, in people’s homes, how to greet people and common phrases.

Many Brits travelling abroad may be unknowingly causing offence as they navigate different cultural norms, be that in the boardroom, a restaurant or in someone’s home. To prevent any future embarrassment, the travel experts at Expedia have created an interactive etiquette guide filled with dos and don’ts when travelling to different countries around the world.

The guide covers 18 of the world’s most-visited countries across five continents and highlights some of the most important etiquette rules for both business and personal travel. From what time to arrive at a meeting to how much to tip at a restaurant, this is an essential guide for anyone wanting to make a good impression overseas.

Certain rules, such as punctuality and small talk, vary dramatically across the globe. For example, while in countries such as France, Japan and the United Arab Emirates it is considered polite to arrive early or on time to someone’s home, in Mexico this is seen as rude. Instead, arriving around 30 minutes late is the norm. The same applies to small talk - while in Turkey and the UK this practice is a sign of good manners in business scenarios, in Germany and the United States small talk is not appreciated.

Expedia’s Etiquette Guide is full of useful and unusual tips to ensure travellers don’t run into any faux pas while abroad. Some of the highlights include:

In Egypt you wait until the oldest male has started eating before tucking in yourself.
In a Japanese household, your shoes should be taken off and point away from the doorway you are about to walk through.
In Spain and Brazil it is normal to be interrupted and to interrupt others.

The guide also provides useful phrases in each of the different languages, including how to say ‘Thank you’ and the all-important ‘Cheers’! If you’re heading abroad this summer, this is a must-have resource for you trip. Prost! Yamas! Salud!

Kasha Dubaniewicz, Project Manager at Expedia says: “Our guide to etiquette around the world is designed to help both holidaymakers and business travellers, ensuring they feel confident and informed when it comes to cultural differences and surprising norms. Hopefully this guide will prevent embarrassing faux pas in the future!”

About Expedia
Whether you know exactly what trip you want, need ideas, or want help narrowing down your search, Expedia.co.uk makes it easy to find the holiday that is right for you. Launched in November 1998, Expedia.co.uk is operated by Expedia, Inc., the world's largest online travel company. Expedia.co.uk is the largest online travel provider for the UK, serving millions of travellers every year.